Paulo Fonseca doesn’t understand why Roma play on Thursday and says Pau Lopez will play against Torino even if Antonio Mirante ‘feels better.’
The Giallorossi host Torino at the Olimpico on Thursday but Fonseca doesn’t seem to be happy about Roma’s fixture list.
“I don’t understand why we are the only ones playing on Thursday, less than 72 hours before the following match, while everyone else play today,” Fonseca said at a press conference.
Paulo Fonseca doesn’t understand why Roma play on Thursday and says Pau Lopez will play against Torino even if Antonio Mirante ‘feels better.’
The Giallorossi host Torino at the Olimpico on Thursday but Fonseca doesn’t seem to be happy about Roma’s fixture list.
“I don’t understand why we are the only ones playing on Thursday, less than 72 hours before the following match, while everyone else play today,” Fonseca said at a press conference.
Torino sit 19th in the Serie A table with only six points in 11 matches but Fonseca warned his players.
"Torino are a strong team, the table does not show their quality. It will be a difficult game, they are an organized team, we will have to play at our best to win.”
Roma won 5-1 away at Bologna last weekend.
“Results bring motivation but we need to have ambition,” said Fonseca.
“Every opponent is difficult to face, it’s going to be tough to win tomorrow.
“I’ve seen almost every game of Torino this season, they came close to winning against big clubs, they have quality, they are compact, it will be difficult.”
Bryan Cristante has been suspended for blasphemy and is the only Roma player unavailable.
“I am not going to make many changes, we need to pay attention to [Rick] Karsdorp and [Bryan] Cristante is the only unavailable player,” Fonseca said.
“[Marash] Kumbulla is feeling well, he has no lesions, [Gianluca] Mancini is ready to play, just like [Chris] Smalling.
“Paul Lopez will start even if [Antonio] Mirante feels better.
“We need to pay attention with Karsdorp, he is playing on a regular basis but it can be difficult for him to play three games in a row."
Inter striker Romelu Lukaku has said he is one of the best five strikers in the world but Fonseca does not agree with the Belgian forward.
“For me, the [Edin] Dzeko, [Borja] Mayoral and [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan are among the top five strikers.”